Luton Town’s push for a League One play-off spot suffered a significant blow after they were narrowly defeated 3-2 by struggling Reading at the Madejski Stadium. Despite a spirited fightback from two goals down, the Hatters were undone by a late strike from Reading substitute Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan, who scored the decisive goal in the 78th minute. The result ended Luton’s four-match unbeaten league run.

Early Reading Lead

Luton, managed by Jack Wilshere, started the game brightly, with Cohen Bramall forcing a wide effort after finding space in the Reading defense. However, Reading soon drew first blood:

• In the 8th minute, Luton’s goalkeeper Josh Keeley clumsily brought down Daniel Kyerewaa following a quick counter-attack.
• Lewis Wing calmly converted the resulting penalty, marking his sixth goal of the season, to put the Royals 1-0 ahead.

Luton had a chance to equalize moments later, but Reading’s goalkeeper Joel Pereira made an outstanding save to deny an inswinging Kal Naismith corner that had deflected off Wing.

Reading Double

The Royals doubled their advantage in the 52nd minute. After a patient build-up from Reading, Randell Williams set up Jack Marriott, who drilled a precise shot from the edge of the area past his former club to make it 2-0.

Luton Fightback

Luton responded quickly, showing determination to stay in the game:

• In the 59th minute, Wing failed to clear a Shayden Morris cross properly, allowing Jordan Clark to poke the ball into the net and reduce the deficit to 2-1.
• Full-back Nigel Lonwijk then fired a stunning strike from distance in the 76th minute, leveling the score at 2-2 and sparking hopes of a comeback.

Late Heartbreak

Just two minutes after Lonwijk’s equalizer, Reading’s Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan guided a shot past Keeley from a tight angle, securing a dramatic 3-2 win for the Royals. Despite Luton’s valiant efforts, the late goal proved decisive.

Implications for Luton’s Play-Off Hopes

The defeat leaves Luton outside the automatic promotion spots, and the loss could complicate their ambitions for a League One play-off position. Manager Jack Wilshere will now need to regroup and motivate his squad for the upcoming fixtures, as the race for promotion remains tight.

Luton’s attacking efforts and resilience were clear positives, but defensive lapses at key moments ultimately cost them valuable points. The Hatters will look to bounce back in their next match to keep their play-off hopes alive.